Garment-supporter



(No Model.)

F. KERN. GARMENT SUPPORTER.

Patented Feb Z3 umo wnsmpo'ron. u. c

ATENT M FRANK-KERN, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,757, at d February 23, 1897.

Application filed January 31, 1395. Renewed June 12, 1896. $erial No. 595,365. (1T0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Ooles and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underwaists; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the letters of reference marked on the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

The drawing represents a perspective view of an underwaist to which I have applied my improvements.

My improvements consist in the following construction and combination of the several parts which go to make a perfect fitting underwaist, the details of which will first be fully described and the features of novelty contained therein then pointed out and claimed.

In the drawing, A represents the shoulderstraps. These curve inwardly, as clearly shown, along the body portion in theregion of the chest and then outwardly again in the neighborhood of the waistband and below.

B represents transverse cross-tie straps or tapes which serve to keep the shoulder-straps A from being spread unduly apart.

0 are the usual stocking-supporters depending from the shoulder-straps.

D are a series of V-shaped depending straps or tapes, the upper ends of which are secured to the shoulder-straps, and the lower ends or apexes carry garment-attachin g devices, such as buttons E or the like.

By so constructing this underwaist that the waistband can be dispensed with a very superior garmentfor the purposes intended is produced. A waistband of an underwaist if the least bit tight prevents the free movements of the body within the same. Each of these four suspensory points of my underwaist are free to swing laterally and independently from one anothera construct-ion not possible where a waistband is present. A muscular freedom of movement to a marked degree thereby results, which in the case of children especially gives at the same time an increased life to the buttons of the waist. Moreover, each point of support for the skirt, dress, stockings, and drawers is carried directly from and upon the shoulders, owing to the peculiar conformation of the straps, and

not indirectly, as is generally the case with underwaists for this purpose.

I claim- An underwaist or garment-supporter provided with shoulder-straps, a V-strap secured between the shoulder-straps above the waist terminating in front at the waist-line, a V- strap similarly secured and similarly terminating in rear, and a V-strap secured to the outside of each shoulder-strap above and terminatin g at the waist-line at each side,whereby the waistband is dispensed with and independent lateral movement is given to each terminal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK KERN.

Witnesses:

W. S. I-IooPER, OLIVE STRIOKLAND. 

